Discardable or reusable plastic package



E. S. TUPPER DISCARDABLE OR REUSABLE PLASTIC PACKAGE July 17, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Nov. 10, 1954 E 924 5. TUPPER 'INVENTOR. Mhw

July 17, 1962 E. s. TUPPER DISCARDABLE OR REUSABLE PLASTIC PACKAGE Original Filed Nov. 10, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 E/7RL s. TUPPER T HUNT IN V EN TOR.

1770mm I July 17, 1962 E. s. TUPPER DISCARDABLE 0R REUSABLE PLASTIC PACKAGE Original Filed Nov. 10, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 HRL S. TUPPEI? INVENTOR fim fiw flffflPA Zy United States Patent 3,044,611 DISCARDABLE OR REUSABLE PLASTIC PACKAGE Earl S. Tupper, Esrnond, 1-11., assignor to Tupper- Corporation, North Smithfield, BL, a corporation of Delaware Original application Nov. 10, 1954, Ser. No. 467,992. Di-

vided and this application June 23, 1959, Ser. No,

14 Claims. (Cl. 206-46) This invention relates generally to a plastic container for packaging varieties of merchandise and of the type adapted to be prefilled and sealed air-tight and in tamperproof manner at the filling plant, but more specifically to a package of a gauge suflicient to be self shape-retaining and yet subject to local deformation at areas of slight pressure and further being capable of being either reused as a container and cover after seal severance or discarded 3,044,61 l Patented July l'Z, 1962 A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a package wherein the normally permanent connection of the members made at the filling plant and including heat-sealing is disposed on cooperating structure between the container and cover members, such structure being of s'uflicient dimensions as to retain their respective sealing and gripping functions but only friction-wise after partial or full severance at the connecting areas.

the provision of a substitute type of merchandise package relative to metallic, glass, cardboard and composition types now on the market and being on approximately the same price levels of cost of manufacture and wherein said package may serve as a durable package for the vessel contents for storage and transportation by carriers, and wherein the package is capable of being partially .or fully severed at the normally permanent seal by the consumer, the package parts after severance being either discardable as in the case of conventional packages after content removal or reusable as a container and frictionally engageable cover for storage and dispensing purposes.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a plastic package of the above characteristics having both content protecting light properties and Hi he same time being sight penetrable by virtue of the gauge and material from which the package is formed. Said material is preferably polyethylene ,or other substance having similar physical characteristics including the -vinyls and derivatives, all being locally distortable and capable ,of withstanding and yielding to shocks without breakage or fracture and further being flexible, suflicient- -ly soft for cutting, tearing or severance for opening the package. In addition, the material used is non-absorbtive to and not readily wetted by water, odorless, resistant to acids, alkalis, solvents and other chemicals at ordinary temperatures. Moreover, the material .does not soften far below the boiling point of water, is resistant to anildews, micro-organisms, and insects and absorbsblowsand shocks by ready yieldability. Furthermore, ,the package is capable of a degree of distortion whilerunderpermanent seal to enable easy storage either for transportationior refrigeration when quarters are cramped and is capable of easy expansion and contraction in capacity for'variations in temperature .and pressure.

Although polyethylene has been found to be a most suitable plastic polymer which has all the above characteristics, it is understood that other plastic materials .re-

:capacities iforpackaging (under vacuum if desired) alcoholic liquids, foods, carbonated beverages, milk and derivative products, cheese, candies, drugs, industrial, commercial and other products such as metals, chemicals,

poisonous materials, and other not too-heavymerchandise.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a form of packaging for commercial, industrial and consumer products which is strong, durable, resistant to. wear, tear, shocks of handling, storage and impact, is electrically non-conductive and is capable of reusability and economically may well be. discarded afterthe heat.- sealing or non-frictionally joined areas have been sepa: rated by a simple knife blade or point cutting, by pulling along a scored area, or by pulling a tear string.

A further object of the invention resides in the utilization of easily yieldably thin-walled material in the formation of a package prefilled and sealed at a filling plant ,and which is suitable for storage, refrigeration and transportation and which is strengthened despite the thin gauge by virtue of complete permanent closure and structure at the'sealing edges.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear in the progress of the disclosure and as pointed out in the appendad claims.

Accompanying this specification are drawings showing preferred forms of the invention and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective partiallyin section showing a package partly in section and after severance of the permanent seal.

FIGURE 2 is a View in perspective of the package shown in FIGURE 1 and showing the cover member in separated condition.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the package across the plane 3.3 of FIGURE 1 showing one manner of separation of the cover from the ,container'memher.

FIGURE 4 is a view in perspective of .the package ,of EIGURE 1 showing linger depression between the top rim and the wall member to facilitate cover removal.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view across the plane 5745 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE .6 shows the package permanently sealed between the cover and container members .at spaced areas and wherein the sealing points are spaced and disposed .along specified ,areas of said members for .an easy pulltype of severance and separation. 1

-t-he package-parts in the structure shown :in FIGURE].

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary yiewin perspective showing a modified means over the means of 73f scoring and sealing areas of the package for severance.

FIGURE i a f as c ar a al qsl dviewnart y in section showing the structure of FiGURE after severance an i wn fls ,fiQ testabilit dietitiability.

FIGURE i a a satar ans an at ed parieta view of FIGURE 10 across the plane lz lg thereof.

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary view in perspective partly ber thereat.

.3 t in section showing a modified means of sealing the package and a means of severing same with a knife point.

In accordance with the invention and the forms shown, FIGURES l-S show a type of storage container and cover suitable for reusability after a permanent seal im pressed at a filling plant has been severed. This type of container or canister has a friction-engaging type of cover and may also be discarded as any other merchandise container since little material is required for molding and forming the same as a result of the thin gauge of the walls. Thus letter A represents the container member and letter B the cover therefor. Container A has a side wall provided with a top having a horizontal type of peripheral flange 11 with a downwardly extending skirt 12. The container has a bottom wall 13. As shown, side wall 10 is rounded and slightly outwardly tapered from bottom Wall 13, but it is understood that the necessity, of the taper, and the size and perimetric shape are selective only. Furthermore, flange and skirt 11-12 are of any predetermined sizes for purposes hereinafter described.

Container A, is of any required capacity and together with cover B is furnished by the package manufacturer to the filling plant or filling operator and the latter determines requirements as to size, capacity and shape. The filling operator at the filling plant first employs the usual facilities for filling vessel A with contents such as food, chemicals, industrial,pharmaceutical, commercial and other types of products capable of being packaged for consumption or distribution by other manuaftcurers, dealers, distributors, consumers and the like. the parts are permanently sealed by conventional means as will appear hereinafter. 7

Container A is made to be easily and locally deformable to slight pressure and at the same time is sufficiently rigid to be self shape-retaining. This is accomplished by employing polyethylene or other substance having similar physical characteristics in thin gauge and by rea- Thereafter;

antigen son of the cooperating closure structure a will appear.

Cover member B made of the same material and of comparable gauge as container A'cooperates with the flange and skirt 11- 12 of the container to add in the shape-retaining characteristic thereof. Thus, flange and skirt 1l 12 by virtue of its structure serves as a reinforcing rim for container A arresting the tendency for easy collapsing and deformability of the container mem- Moreover, flange 1112 serves as a handle element when container A is used by itself as a canister, storage container and the like as best shown in FIGURES 1-4.

Container flange and skirt 1112 is further utilized for cooperation with a. similar type of engaging flange on cover B.

Cover member B is provided with a central wall 14 and terminates edgewise in an inverted, raised and peripheral groove generally indicated by numeral 15 and having an inner wall 16, an outer wall 17 and a top connecting 'wall 18. Cover member B being made as stated of the same material and with comparable gauge as container A is likewise capable of easy detormability, the distortion also being controlled and arrested by the reinforcing effect of the groove rim structure as described.

The flange members 11 and 12 of container A and groove walls 16-48 of cover B are suitably dimensioned for sealing at the filling plant so that following removal in the methods hereafter described of the permanent sealing portions, sufficient flange and skirt areas will remain for proper function of the packages as containers and frictionally removable and frictionally scalable-covers therefor as shown in FIGURES 1-5. Thus, in said FIGURES 'l-5 cover'B has at least the groove walls 18 and 17 engageable with container A at the flange and skirt portions 11 and 12 respectively for removable and scalable purl posite area.

6 and 6a.

Because the gauge of the material forming container A and cover B is thin, it is simple after permanent seal severance, to remove the cover from the container for storage and other useful purposes. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 3, the removal of the cover from the container is eifectuated by pressing the top wall 14 of the cover member with one finger and simultaneously lifting by means of the thumb the lower edge of the groove outer wall 17 of the cover member. The depression of top wall 14 of cover B by one of the fingers causes a displacing action between the cover groove edge 17 and the container skirt 1?. whereupon the cover may be removed in a peeling-off type of operation. Another method of removing the cover B from container A is to indent container side wall 10 with one finger such as the thumb and simultaneously grasp the cover rim at a diametrically op- The thinness of gauge of the package material causes a distinct deformation of the container portion at the thumb-press area causing a disengagement and lowering of the container flange 11 and skirt 12 from the groove of the cover as shown in FIGURE 5 to initiate a peeling-off type or removal of the cover.

In applying cover B on container' A, it is merely necessary to align the cover groove with the flange and skirt 1112 of the container and then by a progressive sliding movement around groove top wall 18 of the finger, sealtight engagement takes place.

By reason of the economy in the gauge of material and modern molding methods the container and cover may be made at costs comparable with conventional glass,'paper and composition containers and covers and hence may be discardable with the same amount of freedom by the consumer. However, it should be borne in mind that a container and cover of the type described is far more suitable than the cardboard, glass, or other types of package including the metal type for the reason that the material Moreover, the contents after seal severance may remain in the container without danger of interaction with the container material.

Several means of permanent sealing of cover B to container A are possible, one of which is shown in FIGURES Permanent and spaced heat-sealing or other type of permanent adhesion or fusion is effected between container rim wall 11 and the underside of cover groove top wall 18 at spaced areas 19. :For seal severance, the cover A is lifted by bearing pressure on cover wall 14 (FIGURE 6) and raising the cover at a non-sealed area from the lower edge of cover wall 17. By a peeling-off and exfoliating type of operation, the parts are separated.

FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 show another means of afiixation between container A and cover B wherein the cover and container members are modified in that the cover groove outer wall 17a. and the container skirt portion 12a are elongated so that upon removal of the lower portions of walls 17a and 12a, said walls are reduced to the sizes of walls 17 and 12 as shown in FIGURES l'5. Sealing 20 between walls 12a and 17a is in the form of a pcripheral and narrow ring area of fusion accomplished by either heat-sealing, adhesive, solvent or other known means, the said sealing being fluid proof. The sealing 29 above the lower edges of walls 12a and 17a is disposed below a peripheral scoring line 21 penetrating cover groove Wall 17a, the said scoring line being broken at a small area 22 (FIGURE 7) below which a notch 23 running from the lower edges of walls 12a and 17a and disposed below area 22 is formed, said notch 23 terminating below fusion ring 20. One edge of notch 23 is extended '5 by a scoring line 24 on outer wall 17a whereby removal of overlapping portions ofwalls 12a and'17a below scoring ring 21 at notch 24 may be initiated by apulling opera tion asshown in FIGURE 9 for removing the lower portions *of walls 12a and 17a below scoring ring 21.

Another means of fusion andjseverance of container =and'cover parts is shown' in FIGURES 10, l1 and 12 wherein walls 17b of'cover D and -12b-of the container C are of the conventional size as shown in FIGURES l and wherein a peripheral scoring ring 2-laon outer wall -17b adjacent the edge of groove top wall 18 is provided andwherein a scoring mark 24 on wall 17b and a similar notch 23 is formed at the adjacent lower edges of walls 1% and 17b for use as-a starting point to effect the'start of removal of the complete walls 12b and 17b by a pulling operation (FIGURE '10). Upon removal, container and .cover members are formed wherein container C results in having a horizontally, disposed edge flange '25 and wherein cover -D is left without a groove outer wall, the engagement between the cover D and container C being frictional'and telescopic.

-In FIGURE 13, another-means of sealing andseverance is'shown wherein the s'ealing area is indicated by a peripheral ring 27 between the cover groove outer wall 17d and the container skirt 12d. Ring 27 is disposed above the lower edges of walls 12d and -17d=to enable a knife point 28 to be inserted for ,cutting seal 27 by peripheral movement until compelte severance takes place. The resultant container and seal of theembodiment'shown in FIGURE 13 resembles the container and seal shown in FIGURES 1-5.

Of course, any type of cover and container member are feasible to practice the invention herein so long as there remains frictional engagementbetween the cover and container members after severance for purposes of scalability in'theeventthepackage is'to'be resued instead of being discarded. Theinvention herein further should not be construed as being limited to specific engaging structure. A tear str-ing'may'ibe weldedor fused between the cover-and, container'menrbers'at the engaging portions for severance of the connected members if desired, although this type of severance is not shown.

Permanent sealing areas as mentioned may be continuous or spotted, but it is to be remembered that where sealing is not continuous, full hermetical sealing protection of the contents is furnished to the extent afiorded by the frictional and live engagement between the cover and the vessel.

Although it is preferable to utilize the same material as well as gauge in the formation of both cover and container, it is understood that slight variations to suit requirements and economies may also be used. Both the container and cover may be formed by any of the known methods in use and the manner of production thereof in no way afiects the invention herein. Included in such methods are injection, compression, blow molding and vacuum forming.

The rigidity afforded by the container and cover rim elements when connected or in separated condition causes a self shape-retaining structure even though the portions beyond said rim elements are very easily deformable.

It is understood that the above forms of the invention apply to differently shaped containers and covers including household items such as plates, cereal dishes, creamers, sugar bowls, tumblers etc.

It is distinctly understood that minor changes and variations in the material, integration, location and arrangement, size and connection and separation of parts may all be resorted to for practicing the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A self shape-retaining and pressure-sensitive hermetically sealed and deformable container with contents sealed therein and adapted for selective discarding or repsability as a rfrictionally scalable container andcover after severance for removal of enclosed contents, com prising a container and cover both being of plastic and of thin gauge, pressure-sensitive and deformable material;

the container having a bottom and straight side wall terminating ina rigidifying outwardly disposed peripheral rim flange having horizontal and skirt portions, 3. cover having a central wall, an upwardly extending side wall and a rigidfying outwardly disposed peripheral side wall rim flange having horizontal and skirt portions, the side wall portion of the container adjacent the flange thereof being operative for frictional, telescopic and hermetical engagement with the cover side wall, the cover flange being supported on the container flange in abutting and resiliently live engagement, r'upt urable fusion means between and joining the opposing faces of opposite portions of said flange horizontal portions for interface separation whereby the package may also serve selectively as a container and separate frictionally engageable cover there for for reuse or as a separated package to be discarded.

2'. A self shape-retaining and pressure-sensitive, hermetically sealed and deformable package as set forth in claim wherein the container, cover and llangemembets are formed of a substance having similar physical properties of polyethylene. n

3. A self shape-retaining and pressure-sensitive, hermetically sealed and deformablepackage as set forth in claim l wherein said rupturable fusion means between and joining the opposing faces of opposite portions of and discontinuous areas.

'4. A self shape-retaining and pressure-sensitive, hermetically sealed and deformable packageas set forth in claim l whe'rein the container, cover and flange members said flange horizontal portions are disposed alongs'paced A are formed of a substance having similar physical'p'rop'e'n I nating in a rigidifying outwardly disposed peripheral rim flange having horizontal and skirt portions, a cover having a central wall, an upwardly extending side wall and a rigidfying outwardly disposed peripheral side wall rim flange having horizontal and skirt portions, the side wall portion of the container adjacent the flange thereof being operative for frictional, telescopic and hermetical engagement with the cover side wall, the cover flange being supported on the container flange in abutting and resiliently live engagement, pressure rupturable fusion means -between and joining opposing faces of corresponding and opposite flange portions of the container and cover (for interface separation whereby the package may also serve selectively as a container and separate frictionally engagealble cover therefor for reuse or as a separated package to be discarded.

6. A self shape-retaining and pressure sensitive, hermetically sealed and deformable package as set forth in claim 5 wherein the container, cover and flange members are formed of a substance having similar physical properties of polyethylene.

7. A 8611f shape-retaining and pressure-sensitive, hermetically sealed and deformable package as set (forth in claim 5 wherein the container, cover and flange members are formed of a substance having similar physical properties of polyethylene and wherein said pressure rupturable fusion means are disposed at discontinuous and spaced areas.

8. A self shape-retaining and pressure-sensitive, hermetically sealed and deformable package as set forth irt claim wherein the pressure rupturable fusion means are comprised of heat welds. l

9. A self shape-retaining and pressure-sensitive, her metically sealed and deformable package as set forth in: claim 5 wherein the pressure rupturable fusion means are comprised of wheat welds and wherein the container, cover and flange members are formed of a substance having; similar physical properties of polyethylene.

10. A self shape-retaining and pressure-sensitive, hermetically sea-led and deformable package as set forth in:

claim 5 wherein the pressure rupturable fusion means are comprised of heat welds disposed at discontinuous and spaced areas.

11.-A self shape-retaining and pressure-sensitive, hermetically sealed and deformable package as set forth in claim 5 wherein the pressure rupturable fusion means are comprised of heat welds disposed at discontinuous areas and wherein the container, cover and flange members are formed of a substance having similar physical properties of polyethylene.

12. A self shape-retaining and pressure-sensitive, hermetically sealed and deformable plastic container with contents sealed therein and adapted for selective discarding or reusability as a frictionallysealable container and cover after severance for removal of enclosedcontents, comprising a container and cover both being of thin gauge, pressure-sensitive and deformable material, the container having a bottom and straight side wall termimating in a rigidifying outwardly disposed peripheral rim 3o flange, a cover having a central wall, an upwardly extending side wall and a rigidifying outwardly disposed peripheral side wall rim flange, the side wall portion of the container adjacent the flange thereof being operative for frictional, telescopic and hermetical engagement with the cover side wall, the cover flange being supported on the container flange in abutting and resiliently live engagement,-rupturable sealing means between opposing and corresponding faces of said abutting flanges for interface separation whereby the package may also serve selectively carded.

' 13. In packaging, a self shape-retaining and pressure sensitivehermetically sealed and deformable container with contents sealed therein and adapted for selective discarding or reusability as a frictionally scalable container and cover after severance for removal of enclosed contents, the combination comprising a container and cover both being of thin gauge, pressure-sensitive and deformable plastic material, the container having a bottom and straight side Wall terminating in a rigid-ifying outwardly disposed peripheral rim flange, a cover having a central wall, an upwardly extending side wall and' a rigidifying outwardly disposed peripheral side wall rim flange, the side wall portion of the container adjacent the flange thereof being operative for frictional, telescopic and hermetical engagement with the cover side wall, the cover flange being supported on the container flange in abutting and resiliently live engagement, hand pressure ruptnrable sealing means between opposing and corresponding faces of said abutting flanges for interface separation whereby the package may also serve selectively as a container and separate frictionally engageable cover therefor. for reuse or as a separated package to be discarded.

14. In packaging, the combination as set forth in claim 13 wherein the handpressure rupturable sealing means between corresponding and opposing faces of said abutting ilanges are spaced in selective configuration.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,946,569 Clark Feb. 13, 1934 2,084,264 Dickson June 15, 1937 2,298,421 Salfisberg Oct. 13, 1942 2,661,790 Slaughter Dec. 8, 1953 2,707,588 Amberg May 3, 1955 2,805,183 Higgins Sept. 3,- 1957 2,837,236 Betner June 3, 1958 

